Luke Wilkinson
![]() Wilkinson playing for Dagenham & Redbridge in 2014 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Luke Alexander Wilkinson[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 29 September 1990||
Place of birth | Wells, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Stevenage | ||
Number | 30 | ||
Youth career | |||
2007–2009 | Bristol City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2009–2010 | Portsmouth | 0 | (0) |
2010 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 0 | (0) |
2010 | → Eastleigh (loan) | 6 | (1) |
2010–2014 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 65 | (6) |
2010–2011 | → Boreham Wood (loan) | 26 | (1) |
2011–2012 | → Boreham Wood (loan) | 23 | (3) |
2012 | → Dartford (loan) | 14 | (4) |
2014–2016 | Luton Town | 62 | (7) |
2016– | Stevenage | 87 | (7) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:09, 1 September 2018 (UTC) |
Luke Alexander Wilkinson (born 29 September 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Stevenage.
Youth career
Wilkinson was born in Wells, Somerset.[1] He started his career in the youth system of Bristol City and was offered a two-year scholarship in June 2007.[4] He was part of the side that competed in the Premier Academy League.[4]
Club career
Portsmouth
Wilkinson was released early from his contract with Bristol City at the age of 17 and was offered a trial by Premier League club Portsmouth.[5] He played in a reserve game against Fulham, in which first-team manager Paul Hart described as the most impressive debut he had seen from any young player.[5] The reserves remained unbeaten with Wilkinson in defence until the end of the season.[5] His outstanding form for the reserves earned him a professional contract in July 2009.[5]
In January 2010, he joined League Two club Northampton Town on a one-month loan, however, he failed to make an appearance for the club.[6]
In February 2010, he joined Conference South club Eastleigh on an initial one-month loan, which was later extended until the end of the season.[7]
Dagenham & Redbridge
In the summer of 2010, Wilkinson was released by Portsmouth and signed for newly promoted League One club Dagenham & Redbridge on a three-year contract.[8] In November 2010, he joined Conference South club Boreham Wood on an initial one-month loan, making his debut in a 3–2 defeat at home to Dover Athletic.[9] The loan was then extended by a further month,[10] before it was extended once more until the end of the season.[11] Wilkinson scored his first goal on the final day of 2010–11 in a 3–0 win at home to Lewes and finished the season with 28 appearances.[12] He rejoined Boreham Wood in August 2011 on a five-month loan.[13] He was a mainstay in the team, making 25 appearances, the last of which came in a 2–1 defeat at home to Woking on 28 January 2012, before returning to Dagenham at the end of January.[14] In February 2012, he joined fellow Conference South club Dartford on loan.[15] In March 2012, his loan was extended until the end of the season after scoring two headers in consecutive wins over Havant & Waterlooville and Sutton United.[16] He claimed his first piece of silverware as Dartford were promoted to the Conference Premier via their play-off win over Welling United on 13 May 2012.[17]
Wilkinson made his professional debut for Dagenham on 1 September 2012 in a 2–2 draw away to AFC Wimbledon.[18] He cemented his place in the first-team by scoring four goals, which prompted Daggers manager John Still to offer him a new contract until 2015.[19] He finished 2012–13 with 46 appearances in all competitions and won the club's Player of the Year award.[20] This led to reported interest from Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Norwich City.[20] However, no move materialised and Wilkinson admitted that he needed another few years to develop as a player before making the step up.[21]
Wilkinson's start to the 2013–14 season was delayed by a groin injury picked up in pre-season, before making his return at the end of August in a 3–0 defeat to Mansfield Town.[22] He went on to make 25 appearances but a combination of further injuries, the form of Scott Doe and Brian Saah, and the late emergence of Ian Gayle resigned Wilkinson to the bench for the majority of the season.[22] In May 2014, he was placed on the transfer list at his own request and his name was circulated to other clubs highlighting his availability.[22] In June 2014, he stated he was happy to fight for his place if a move away from the club didn't materialise.[23]
Luton Town
On 7 July 2014, Wilkinson signed for League Two club Luton Town on a one-year contract, managed by his former Dagenham manager John Still, for an undisclosed fee.[24] He debuted on the opening day of 2014–15 in a 1–0 win away to Carlisle United, Luton's first Football League match in five years.[25] Wilkinson scored his first goal in a 2–0 win at home to Oxford United on 27 September 2014,[26] and this was followed up with a goal in the following match, a 2–1 win away to Stevenage.[27] He was named League Two Player of the Month for September 2014, during which Luton kept a clean sheet in each of the four matches Wilkinson played in that month.[28] Wilkinson was sent off on two occasions, the first coming in stoppage time during a 1–0 defeat away to Burton Albion on 22 November, a result that ended Luton's 11-match unbeaten run in League Two,[29] and the second coming in a 1–0 win at home to Carlisle United on 14 February 2015.[30] The latter red card coincided with a four match suspension for defensive partner Steve McNulty, who was sent off for a studs-up challenge in the previous match, a 2–2 draw at home to York City.[31] In their absence, Luton lost twice in a row, during which stand-in defenders Alex Lacey and Fraser Franks failed to impress.[32] Wilkinson finished the season with four goals from 48 appearances, triggering a one-year contract extension to keep him at Luton until the summer of 2016.[33]
Wilkinson made his first appearance of 2015–16 in the starting lineup away to Accrington Stanley on the opening day of the season, which finished as a 1–1 draw,[34] and followed up with a goal in the following league match, a 2–2 draw at home to Oxford United on 15 August 2015.[35] He went on to score two goals in September, the first coming in a 3–1 win away to Cambridge United on 5 September,[36] and the second coming in a 3–1 win away to Morecambe on 29 September.[37] Wilkinson made his final appearance for Luton in a 4–3 defeat at home to Northampton Town on 12 December.[38]
Stevenage
On 22 January 2016, Wilkinson was sold to fellow League Two club Stevenage on a contract until the end of 2015–16, with Luton replacing him with Alan Sheehan, who was signed on loan from Bradford City later that day.[39][40] Wilkinson said he was surprised by the decision but was looking forward to helping Stevenage climb the table.[41] He debuted a day later in a 0–0 draw at home to Barnet.[42] Wilkinson scored his first two goals for Stevenage in a 3–2 defeat at home to League Two leaders Northampton Town on 19 March.[43] He finished the season with 19 appearances for Stevenage and signed a new undisclosed length contract with the club after the end of the season.[44]
Career statistics
- As of match played 9 October 2018
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Eastleigh (loan) | 2009–10[45] | Conference South | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | |||
Dagenham & Redbridge | 2010–11[46] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2012–13[47] | League Two | 43 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 46 | 6 | |
2013–14[48] | League Two | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
Total | 65 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 71 | 6 | ||
Boreham Wood (loan) | 2010–11[12] | Conference South | 26 | 1 | — | — | 2[b] | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
2011–12[14] | Conference South | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 25 | 3 | ||
Total | 49 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 53 | 4 | |||
Dartford (loan) | 2011–12[49] | Conference South | 14 | 4 | — | — | 4[c] | 0 | 18 | 4 | ||
Luton Town | 2014–15[50] | League Two | 42 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 48 | 4 |
2015–16[38] | League Two | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | |
Total | 62 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 7 | ||
Stevenage | 2015–16[38] | League Two | 19 | 2 | — | — | — | 19 | 2 | |||
2016–17[51] | League Two | 40 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 45 | 4 | |
2017–18[52] | League Two | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
2018–19[53] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 87 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 100 | 7 | ||
Career total | 283 | 29 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 320 | 29 |
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- ^ One appearance in Kent Senior Cup, three in Conference South play-offs
- ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
Honours
Dartford
- Conference South play-offs: 2011–12[17]
Individual
- Dagenham & Redbridge Player of the Year: 2012–13[20]
- Football League Two Player of the Month: September 2014[28]
References
- ^ a b "Luke Wilkinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Brown, Tony; Joyce, Michael; Longbottom, David, eds. (2013). English National Football Archive Yearbook 2013. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 978-1-905891-62-7.
- ^ "Luke Wilkinson". ESPN FC. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Eight youngsters handed deals". Vital Bristol City. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Wilkinson goes south". Somerset Live. Yeovil. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Northampton sign Luke Wilkinson and Stephen O'Flynn". BBC Sport. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ Gee, Wendy (26 February 2010). "Sacrificial lambs – Tessem and Day depart. Goodhind to return?". Daily Echo. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Dagenham & Redbridge sign Luke Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Freak leaves it bleak for Wood". Boreham Wood F.C. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Liddle, Iain (16 December 2010). "Bas Savage pens new contract at Dagenham & Redbridge". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Ola Sogbanmu has loan extended to end of season". Boreham Wood F.C. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Detailed results – Boreham Wood Football Club season 2010/11" (PDF). Boreham Wood F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- ^ "Player profiles: Luke Wilkinson". Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Detailed results – Boreham Wood Football Club season 2011/12" (PDF). Boreham Wood F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Darts borrow Daggers defender". Pitchero. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Dartford extend the loan of defender Luke Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ a b Hoad, Alex (13 May 2012). "Dartford 1 Welling United 0". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon 2–2 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Luke Wilkinson signs contract extension". Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ a b c "Villa, Norwich eyeing Dagenham & Redbridge defender Luke Wilkinson". Tribal Football. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ Munford, Colin (13 June 2013). "Wilkinson needs more experience but is aware of transfer rumours". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ a b c Munford, Colin (28 May 2014). "Daggers defender transfer listed – at his own request". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Munford, Colin (6 June 2014). "Daggers defender happy to stay if move away fails". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Luke Wilkinson: Luton Town sign defender from Dagenham". BBC Sport. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Sharp, Tom (9 August 2014). "Football: Carlisle United 0 Luton Town 1 – Hatters mark Football League return with victory". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ May, Jamie (27 September 2014). "Match report: Luton Town 2 Oxford United 0 – lightning start as Hatters claim back-to-back wins". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Stevenage 1–2 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Luke Wilkinson named Sky Bet League 2 Player of the Month". The Football League. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ "Burton Albion 1–0 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Luton Town 1–0 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Luton Town 2–2 York City". BBC Sport. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ Cunliffe, James (25 February 2015). "Luton Town: Luke Wilkinson poised to return to line-up after stand in defenders miss chance to impress". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ Cunliffe, James (5 May 2015). "Luton Town: Twelve out of contract Hatters set to learn their fates". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ "Accrington Stanley 1–1 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Luton Town 2–2 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Cambridge United 1–3 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Morecambe 1–3 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Luke Wilkinson: Stevenage sign Luton Town defender". BBC Sport. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Alan Sheehan heads to Luton on loan from Bradford". Sky Sports. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ Scott, Alan (24 January 2016). "Stevenage Luke Wilkinson interview: Luton Town exit shock amid allegations of 'Dagenham clique'". Hertfordshire Mercury. Hertford. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Stevenage 0 Barnet 0 match report: Boro's recruits from Derby County and Luton shine in bore draw". Hertfordshire Mercury. Hertford. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Stevenage 2–3 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Luke Wilkinson: Defender signs new deal of undisclosed length at Stevenage". BBC Sport. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2010). Non-League Club Directory 2011. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 296–297. ISBN 978-1-869833-68-8.
- ^ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "L. Wilkinson". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
"Dartford 3–1 Charlton Athletic XI". Kent Sports News. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2016. - ^ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Luke Wilkinson profile at the Stevenage F.C. website
- Luke Wilkinson at Soccerbase
- Use dmy dates from July 2013
- 1990 births
- Living people
- English footballers
- People from Wells, Somerset
- Association football defenders
- Portsmouth F.C. players
- Eastleigh F.C. players
- Northampton Town F.C. players
- Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players
- Boreham Wood F.C. players
- Dartford F.C. players
- Luton Town F.C. players
- Stevenage F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players